Eggen had previously said he’d be interested. He said he decided to announce on the weekend to end speculation.

“I just wanted to be straight up. When they open this thing, I will be the first in line to file my papers,” said Eggen, who represents Edmonton-Calder and serves as caucus whip.

The new leader will be chosen at a party conference in Edmonton on Oct. 18-19 to replace current leader Brian Mason.

Mason announced last month that he would step down at the convention. He said he had taken the party as far as he could and suggested a fresh face is needed if the NDP is to make a breakthrough and become a solid alternative to the two dominant right-centre parties in the province — the Wildrose and the Progressive Conservatives.

Eggen agreed.

“There’s a growing fatigue watching two conservative parties essentially battle it out to see who can be more right wing, and make more cuts and compromise the public interest,” he said.

“People want a stronger public health-care and education system.”

The NDP is the fourth party in the legislature with four of a possible 87 seats, all in Edmonton.

Eggen agreed that re-establishing a base outside Edmonton, especially in Calgary, is critical.

“There are many neighbourhoods and a whole socio-economic class of people in Calgary that are identical to Edmonton. It’s just a question of working (to bring out the vote).

“We will get good candidates in there. They’ll have some time (to prepare) and we’ll win some of those seats back.”